Hi <<First Name>>,

I read something very encouraging today. 

I've been reading through Paul David Tripp's excellent book, 'Lost in the Middle' (copies available at the bookstall) - a book filled with biblical wisdom - but also strikingly compassionate and with a wonderful pastoral perspective.

The author was speaking about today's culture being obsessed with beauty and appearance - contrasting this with the 'real' experiences of mid-life (where, as many of us know, some parts of our appearance become just that much harder to control!). He was speaking about a verse from 2 Corinthians which says, "...outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day". (2 Corinthians 4: 16).

It rang very true to hear him say that the world around us only tends to concentrate on the first half of that verse - focuses only on the 'visible' effects that growing older has on the body. As Christians however, we also have an *invisible* process going on within us as we grow older - whereby we are all the more prepared and renewed for eternal life with our glorious God. 

It's hugely encouraging to know that we are '...renewed day by day...' as this part of the Bible tells us.

It helped me with the next part of the letter, which says "...as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen". It's so easy to forget to do this!


Please do have a read through this week's issue of Church Bites - we have the working group's response to Motion 30 below, a new song link from Naomi - prayer requests, the last of the 39 Articles, and more besides!  

Have a lovely week. 
 

Toby Behan


Mens Christian Convention

We are really excited that Mens Christian Convention is coming up again on Aug 12 - 13 - and hope that you are, too! David Cook is a wonderful speaker - and he will be giving messages and teaching from John's gospel (chapters 11 & 12). The event is entitled 'A Matter of Life and Death'.

Many men have found these conferences tremendously encouraging in years past and this year will once again be a fantastic time together. Please do visit their website here for more information, or to register.


Response to Motion 30

The vestry leadership team at St. John's asked a small working group to put together a response to Motion 30 from the General Synod / Te Hinota Whanui, May 2014.

You can read the response here. This response was written to help the General Synod working group.

Please pray:

1) That the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia to return to the Scriptures in humble repentance and not to pursue a course of action away from this.
2) That God would give us and all His people strength to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints.
3) Especially for Michael Hewat, his wife Kimberley, and the people of West Hamilton Anglican Church who have decided they can no longer submit to General Synod - pray that God will provide them with everything they need, strength to stand firm, and that they will know the love and support of their brothers and sisters in Christ.
 

New Song

Here is a link for a lovely song that we will be singing / teaching at St. John's for the 10.00am and 7.00pm services in the next few weeks - we do hope you find it helpful and encouraging!





150th Anniversary Pictures

For anyone who has not seen them yet, please do have a look here at at some of the pictures kindly taken by Bruce Nolan (thanks, Bruce!) of the recent 150th anniversary celebrations - a wonderful day. 


Two Current Needs

From August 10 - 17th, St. John's will be having a special week - allowing us the opportunity to raise some funds for two specific purposes. We would love to present the new Rolleston Baptist church with a financial gift as they start up next month, and we would also like to provide a van to help Jason Tomkinson with transporting youth to church and Sunday School. 

We would welcome any donations to these two special causes. To contribute, simply make an online donation with 'Gift Week' as an online reference (our online giving details can be found here) - or if you prefer to give via cheque or cash, please simply ensure that any gift is clearly marked 'Gift Week'.